My 2 Card Spread (Focus; Solution): On Guard and Seeking to Enjoy the Rewards of Life

Deck: (Top) The Victorian Romantic Tarot; (Bottom) The Bohemian Gothic Tarot

Has it really been three weeks since my last post? So far, this year has been off to a busy start. After a busy work week and preparing to go away, going away and then coming back and getting things back up to speed, I feel like I lost track of time! Needless to stay, I am ready to get things back on track with this blog. Posting three times a week (under normal conditions!) isn’t too much to ask of myself.

Whilst I have not been blogging, I have still been doing daily draws. Single card draws for reflections work well, and I like the simplicity of three card spreads (past – present – future or the like). However, I have become quite fond of two card spreads as well. Clear and to the point, they offer a concise way to do a assist in clarifying the issue depicted in the first card drawn. Sometimes, less is better!

I assume that there are variations of this simple spread, but this is what I came up with:

2 Card Spread: (Left)Focus and (Right) Solution

(Left) Focus – Page of Swords

Element: Air
Associations: Thought processes; conflict

The focus of the Page of Swords is standing on guard and being attentive to one’s surroundings. Within the court cards, the Page is the youngest of the court and represents learning and the attributes of the suit.

In The Victorian Romantic Tarot, the young page is outside in the courtyard outside of a castle, holding his gun and looking to his left, representing action. He is on the look out, but looks like he can protect himself. The grounds are lush with grass and vegetation and he wears a red coat with regal lion decor on it, denoting strength.

In The Bohemian Gothic Tarot, we see a girl as the page. She appears to be standing in castle grounds at night. There is a light, but it is not on. Instead the luminous moon is behind it, adding an element of mystery. When compared to The page in the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the page in The Bohemian Gothic Tarot appears on edge. Her body language indicates that she has closed herself off, as opposed to the active stance of the other page. She also gazes to the left as if she is awaiting what will happen next. Her coat is buttoned to her collar and a gold cross necklace hangs at her neck. She may have the inner strength to protect herself, but that is all that she has right now. But, her faith may fail her as well; the angel statue in the background sits down and looks asleep as it leans on a sword.

(Right) Solution – 9 of Pentacles

The focus of the 9 of Pentacles is the culmination of wealth in many ways, including material gains, the path taken to get to that point, and a robust lifestyle.

Element: Earth
Associations: Possessions; financial growth; status

In The Victorian Romantic Tarot, a woman stands confidently with her hand on her hip, gazing, looking as if she doesn’t have a care in the world. She holds a basket overflowing with daisies representing her connection to earth, growth and strength. She wears a yellow silk bodice around her waist, the color another symbolic reference connected to the daisies and the outdoors. Her white gown has an abundant amount of material on it and she wears a black hat with an enormous brim. She is relishing in the abundance of things gained, life in general and the experiences that happen within various cycles of life. In the Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Nine of Pentacles reminds me of the themes in the Empress card and certainly bares a resemblance to her in many ways.

In the Bohemian Gothic Tarot, the woman shown almost appears to be a slave to her lifestyle. She wears a white wig, a common practice for high society in the 19th century. What strikes me is the silver headdress worn at the crown of the wig; it almost looks like a spider. She wears a black dress with a white rope, denoting duality and balance. But, is she balanced? Perhaps she thinks she is. But, by the looks of the vulture, she seems to be possessed by her wealth. Her red fan and red shoes are the only other colors in the card, each serving as a metaphor. Her passion helps her stand her ground. And, the red fan helps her keep her cool. A vulture sits perched on the stone at the top of the landing that the woman is on and the skulls of other vultures appear on the ground, symbolic of the cycles of life. There is a pattern here, and even though the woman lives in a big house–as seen in the distance–she is trapped by her lifestyle.

Summary:

Focus: I may be on guard, but I must have confidence to be able to succeed. Perhaps there is blockage, or the path isn’t clear. I’ll have to test out the waters both physically and mentally, and trust that I can come to a resolution.

Solution: Once I have gained the confidence and am no longer on guard, I can enjoy the good things in life. Abundance is something that can be earned or simply gained. It will be key to remember that wealth doesn’t necessarily mean material gains; one doesn’t want to be a slave to their own environment. Appreciate the things that you have.

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